Control device for power laundry washers



Jan 7, 1936. I p SCHAUM 2,026,85@

CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER LAUNDRY WASHERS Filed June 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 7, 193's.

P. F. SCHAUM 2,026,850 CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER LAUNDRY WASHERS 1 Filed June 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 rflw L7 ,0 0

Z72 ma 2X02" i W A CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER LAUNDRY WASHERS Filed June 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan, 7, 319%. P. F. SCHAUM CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER LAUNDRY WASHERS v 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 24, 1952 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATEN'l OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER LAUNDRY WASHERS Paul Frederick Schaum, CincinnatL Ohio Application June 24, 1932, Serial No. 619,092

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in laundry apparatus of that type adapted to operate power laundry washing machines, and particularly to that type of apparatus adapted to automatically deliver to the washing machine the proper amount of hot and cold water, and other ingredients necessary to.complete the washing .of a single batch of clothes, whereby the operator need only to fill the machine with soiled clothes, after which the control mechanism is set into operation so that the operator has a considerable amount of time for attending other machines.

- Apparatus for this purpose now in commercial use issomewhat objectionable in certain respects due to the fact that the operation of the automatic apparatus requires a certain amount of attention on the part of the operator who generally has to attend to a number of other machines, and often neglects the operation of the controls at the time the operation should be attended to, which results in unsatisfactory and ineflicient operation of the mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a'simple, durable and inexpensive apparatus in which is included means for delivering to the washing machine hot and cold-water at the various re-.

quired temperatures, soda, soap, sour, bluing and other ingredients in liquid form, and improved means for automatically controlling the quantity of the substances delivered to the washing machine, and'also the time of their delivery, so that the various ingredients may be delivered in proper sequence as required in the washing operation, or in other words, to automatically,

carry out the various cycles of operations, or

what is commonly known as the program.

A further object is to provide in a laundry apparatus of the type above described a movable program device actuated by the washing machine mechanism in such manner that all of'the necessary control devices for admitting fluids to the washing machine are actuated by the one movable member, and during a predetermined amount of movement of said member, whereby a single operation of the program device will cause the predetermined cycle of operations to be automatically carried out, and in connection therewith improved means whereby the said program devicecannot be reset for a new cycle of operation until the said program device has been moved to its normal or initial position of movement.

A further object isto providein connection with a program device of the class above described improved means whereby the program device may be maintained in an inoperative position until it has been reset to its normal position as above described.

A further object-is to provide in an automati- 5 cally operated control mechanism for washing machines a visible means whereby the operating condition of the washing machine may be immediately ascertained by the operator.

Afurther object is to provide in an automatil0 cally operated control device for washing machines improved means for operating the control device whereby the'temperature and quantity f water and the proper amounts of other ingredients may be accurately and positively de- 15 livered to the washing machine in their proper sequence, as provided for in the-predetermined program, whereby all of said operations are positive and absolutely independent of the operator from the beginning to the end of the predeter- 20 mined sequence of operation. 4

A further object is to provide in an automatic control device for laundry washing machines employing a movable program device improved means for easily and quickly detaching the pro- 25 gram element.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, 30

- pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved control device with the supply pipes in section and a portion of the casing broken away.

Figure 2 is a front end view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1 as applied to a washing machine tub, said tub being shown in transverse section.

Figure 3 is a back end view of the mechanism 40 illustrated in Figure .1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, detail, sectional view taken on the line 55-of'Figure 2. 45

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 illustrating the program device in its inoperative position. 50

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on-the line 88'of Figure 1.,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which the valve rod is adjustably con.- nected with its operating lever. 55

member 'l5'into engagement with theshoulder 14. wherein the gears 6| will mesh with the gears 62 that th pr am m r 6 i being c ntinuously so that upon rotation of the member 46, the valve threads a d 58, a d that h E 18 Will enter deliver the desired ingredients to the washing ma-' member 46.

beveled. The member H is provided with a slide moved to their forward longitudinal position of bolt 15 having its outer endbeveledand designed movement. This outward movement of the memto engage the shoulder I4. v ber 82 causes the notch 85 to move to position A spring 16 is mounted in the outer end of the beneath the pin 86, after which the free edge shaft 15, to normally hold the inner end of said of the frame Ii may be elevated to position -5 The upper surface of the central portion of'the in the manner before described. shaft 15 has a notch 11 designedto receive a lug As soon as power is transmitted to the head 53 18 carried by the outer surface of the member 46 to rotate it in a clockwise working direction, the at a point intermediate its ends. Thus means is pin 81 will then disengage the-pin 89, the mem- Provided whereby w the p ogram member 46 ber 82 being held against inward movement by has completed its predetermined automatic movemeans of a pin 88 engaging with the outer shoulments, and its longitudinal rearward movement der formed by the notch 85. The program device the lug 18 will enter the notch I1 as the said memmay then be operated until it has been moved to ber 46 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction -its rearward position of movement, by which 15 as illustrated in Figure 6. Further rotation of time the lug 18 will have engaged the notch 11 the member 46 will ,cause the rod 15 to be moved of the member 15, causing the latch 15 to diseninwardly and to disengage the lug l4 permitting gage the member 13, at which time the program the support II to drop to its inoperative position device will again become inoperative. illustrated in Figure '1. The program cylinder 46 is provided with one In this connection it should be borne in mind or more cam devices 45 for each of the levers 4i,

moved longitudinally as it is rotated by the rods 32 may be actuated in proper sequence to the notch 11 only on the last revolution of the chine tub through the inlet pipes before described.

' i The outlet valve 15 is actuated by means of a -To return the Pro m pp o s no mal link 80 connected to a bell crank 9| which in vertical position I have provided a shaft 18 rO- turn is connected to one end of a vertical link 92 tatively'mounted in the frame and transcarried by the corresponding lever 34, as illusversely below the member H, having a cam 88 on trated in Figure 8. which the, inner edge of the member 1| rests when The 'cam- 45a is designed to operate the lever in its inoperative position. Said cam 80 is so ar- 34 in a reverse direction to open the outlet valve ranged that when the shaft 191s rocked, the mem- [5 from that imparted to levers 34 to open their ber II will be elevated, permitting the members corresponding valves. 13 and 15 to latch. Theshaft I9 is operated by. The rear end of the program device 46 is promeans of a lever 8|. vided with characters or phrases 93 to'indicate' To insure that the program device 46 has been the working condition of the washing machine, returned to its initial starting positionand before. and which. of the predetermined programs is the member 1| is permitted to be elevated to opbeing I operated, such .as suds, bluing, etc; The erative position, I have provided means whereby characters are arranged in such a manner that 40 the member "H be locked against upward movethey will pass under an index member 94 at the merit to prevent the latching action of the memtime the particular operation indicated is being bers l3 and 15 in case said program device has not carried on. w I been moved to its initial and forward position of The practical operation of my improved appae movement. Said means comprises a shaft 82 slidratus is as follows: ably mounted in a suitable opening in the inner Assuming that the parts have allbeen returned bearing member- 55, as illustrated in Figures 4 to their normal position of movement, and that and 5. A contractile spring 83 is provided for the washing machine has been emptied and the 5th Suds Hot wate'r 160170 F. 095.5 34 whenthe 15 uter mmt 6th Rinse Hot water 160-170 F. of movement, and at which time the frame mem- NIL-Rinse Hot water 160170: F.

. ber H is at its upper limit of movement, or opera-v silk-Rinse ten-460470 normally moving the Sa d Shaft 32 inwardly. outlet valve has been moved to a closed position,

The outer end of the shaft 82 is designed to be soiled clothes are then placed in the washing supported in a recess 84 formed in the frame machine, the various liquids may then be admember se -said" recess is of such epth .that mitted automatically according to the pred t the up and down movement of the free edge of the mined program; such for instance as f n member Il may take place freely. .The upper M edge of the outwardly extending portion of the 1st Bi-eak Lukewarm 9o-'100F. Light suae 5 2nd ..Suds Hot watcr. 130140 F. G0 (1 member 82 1 provlded wlth mtch re 3rd Suds Hot water.. 160170- 61031123331 1% 5 ceiving a pin 86 permanently mounted in the re- 4th-Bleach Hot water 160170 1F. Bleach 9tli R1nse Hot water 160-170 tive position, with the members 14 and 15 locked. 10tli Sour Warm water 130140 It will readily be seen that if the shaft 82 is nth-Blue rm -100 F. moved inwardly a slight distance, then the free The lever 8lis then grasped, causing the proedge of the frame 1| would not be permitted to gram Support H to be elevated and locked in be moved to closing position to such an extent that operative position The H 53 will then be 85 locking action would take place between the memrotated by means of the ge 6' from the pinion bers l3 and 'I5, due to the lower edge of the mem- 62' and at the same time dosing the control ber 86 contacting the upper edge of the outer end switch of the motor operating the washing ma of the member the recess' chine. Said switch is mounted in the switch box 70 The member 82 is moved to its outer limit of movement against the action of the Spring 83 by and actuated by the lever 96 and elevated by means of a pin-81 carried the head 53 asvthe a suitable spring not illustrated, at the time the ber 1| is elevated. head 53 is rotated in a counter clockwise direcmam A tion, as illustrated in Figure 4, and at the time The said lever 96 1 moved to p tive posithe said head 53 and the program device 46 are i n by Ine f 6 lu c i y he mem- 75 her H and engaging the lever 96 at the time the member H is moved to inoperative position.

As the said cylinder 46 is rotated, the various ingredients will be delivered to the washing machine through the inlet pipes in the order above indicated. The washing machine is emptied between each of the operations above indicated. The complete washing operation takes place in about seventy-five minutes, and upon about six or seven revolutions of the program device 46.

After the various operations have been completed, the lug 18 engages the shaft 15, permitting the frame H to drop to its lowered position of movement, causing the gear 6| to disengage the pinion s2 and the switch arm as to be actu- 1 ated to stop the washing machine. The operator then graspsthe handle Ill and causes theshaft 54 to be rotated to return the member 46 to its initial position. This operation continues until the pin 8'! engages the pin 89 to place the shaft 82 in position whereby the member ll may again be moved to its operative position.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the program device cannot again be started until it has first been moved to its initial position, thus providing means whereby the entire program may be carried out when the machine is started. The entire operation is automatic and so arranged that once the machine is started, all of the operations will be completed.

It will further be seen that I have provided a imple, durable and inexpensive mechanism for automatically controlling the program device wherein a uniform quality of work may be performed, resulting in a saving of supplies and time, and wherein the 'washing formula may be scientifically and positively carried out.

I claim asmy invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a washing machine tub, a series. of supply pipes leading into said tub, an outlet pipe, a control valve in each of said pipes, a lever actuated device for controlling each of said valves, a movably mounted program device for actuating said lever devices, and for actuating said valves in predetermined sequence, driving means for actuating said program device, manually actuated supporting means for moving said program device into and out of operative relation with saiddriving means and said lever devices, means for locking the program supporting means in operative position, and means automatically operated for releasing said locking means when the program device has completed its movement.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a washing machine tub, a series of supply pipes leading into said tub, an outlet pipe, a control valve in each of said pipes, a lever actuated device for controlling each of said valves, a movably mounted program device for'actuating said lever devices, and for actuating said valves in predetermined sequence, driving means for actuating said program device, manually actuated' supporting means for moving said program device into and out of operative relation with said driving means and said lever devices, means for locking the program supporting means in operative position, means automatically operated for releasing said lockingmeans when the program device has completed its movement, and means for returning the program device to its initial position of movement.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a washing machine tub, a series of supplypipes leading into said tub, an outlet pipe,

l aozaeso tion, means automatically operated for releasing said locking means when the program device has completed its movement, means for returning the program device to its normal position of movement, means for locking the program supporting it means in an inoperative position, and means actuated by the program device in its returning movement for releasing said locking means only when the program device has returned to its initial position of movement. 20 4. In a device of the class described, a series of valve actuating devices, a rotatively mounted program device, cams on said device to operate said valve actuating devices in predetermined sequence, means for driving said program device, 25 pivoted means for supporting said program device and for moving said program device into and out L of operative relation with said driving means and said valve actuating devices, means for moving the program device to its initial position of move- 30 ment, means for locking the program supporting means in an inoperative position, and means actuated by the program device in its returning movement for releasing the last said locking means only when the program device has been returned to its initial position of. movement.

5. In a device of theclass described, a series of valve actuating devices, a movably mounted program supporting device, a program device carried by said supporting device, means on said program device for operating said valve actuating mechanisms in predetermined sequence, said program device being rotatively and detachably mounted in said program support, a driving head rotatively mounted in said program support, and means for detachably connecting said program device to said driving head.

5. In a. device of the class described, a series of valve actuating devices, a movably mounted program support, a program device, means carried by said program device for operating said valve actuating devices in predetermined sequence, said program device being rotatively mounted in said program support, a driving head rotatively mounted in said program support, means for de- 5 tachably connecting said program device to said driving head, means for rotating said driving head, means formoving the program support to cause said head to operatively engage said rotating means, means for returning the program device to itsinitial position of rotative movement, means for locking the program support in an inoperative position, and means actuated by the program device in its returning movement for releasing the last said locking means only whenthe program device has returned to its initial position of rotative movement.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of. a series of lever devices for actuating valves, a rotatably mounted cylindrical program device having its'circumference provided with a series of cams for engaging said lever devices for actuating the same as the program device is rotated, a pivoted supporting frame adapted to be elevated and lowered, means carried by the II a program support, a program device-movably frame for rotatively and detachably supportin said program ,device, a head rotatively mounted on said frame, means ior detachably connecting said program device with said head, a spur gear for rotating said head, a driving pinion for imparting movement to said spur gear when the supupper limit of movement with the port is at its cams in operative relation with said levers, means for locking said support in its elevated position, means for automatically unlocking said locking means when the program device has completed its operative movement, means for returning the program device to its initial position of movement,'means for locking theprogram supporting means against being completely moved to its upper position of movement, and means for releasing .the last said locking means only-when the program device has been returned to its initial position of movement.

8. In a device of the class described, a series of valve actuating devices, a movably mounted program support, a program device movab y mounted in said program support, cams on sai program device for actuating said valve actu-i ating devices as the programdevice is actuated, means for moving said program device to actuate said valve actuating devices, and means for actuating said program support-to move the cams of said program device into and-out of operative relation with said actuating devices.

' 9. In a device of the class described, a series of valve actuating, devices; a movably mounted mounted 'on said support, cams on said program deviceior operating said valve actuating devices in predetermined, sequence as the program device is moved, means for moving said program device on the support, and means for actuating the program support and the program carried thereby to cause said cams to be moved into and out of operative relation with the corresponding valve actuating device.

10. In a device of the class described, a series of valve actuating devices, a rotatively mounted program device, cams on said program device to operate said valve actuating devices in predetermined sequence as the program device is rotated in one direction, means for rotating the program devicein onedirection, means for m tating the program device in the opposite direction, means for movably supporting theprogram device to permitthe carried thereon to be tuating devices, means for locking the program device supporting means in its operative position,

movement.

bination of a washing vice into and out of operative relation with said moved into and out cit operative relation with said ment, and means for automatically releasing said locking meanswhen the' program device has 5 completed its operative movement. x 11. In a device of the class described, a series of valve actuating devices, a rotatively mounted program device, cams on said program device to operate said valve actuating devices in predetermined sequence as the program device is. rotated in one direction, means for rotating said program device in its operative direction, means for rotating the program device in a reverse di-. rection to return it to its initial position, pivoted means for supporting the program device to permit the cams carried thereon to be moved into and out of operative relation with said valve acmeans for automatically releasing said locking means when the program device has completed a predetermined number of revolutions, means for locking the program supporting means against being moved to operative position, and

, means for automatically releasing the last locking means only when the program device has been returned to its initial rotative position or '12. In a device of the class described, the commachine tub, a series of supply-pipes leading into said tub, an outlet pipe, 9. control valve in each of said pipes, a lever actuated device for controlling each of said valves,-

a movably mounted program device for actuating said lever devices and for actuating said valves I in predetermined sequence, driving means for ac-, tuating said program device, manually actuated supporting means for moving said program de- 40 driving means and said lever devices, and means for locking the program supporting means in operative position.

.. 13. In a device of the class described, a series .01 valve actuating devices, a program drum having cams for actuating said valve actuating devices in predetermining sequence as the program drum is rotated, said. program drum being mounted to move laterally toward and from said valve actuating devices, and-means for moving so the program drum towardand from said valve' actuating devices, for the purpose stated.

- PAUL FREDERICK SCHAU'M. 

